Authorities of the Catholic Church at the Vatican City have accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta, a United States based cleric accused of misappropriating church funds and engaging in visits to a luxury brothel in Mexico.
The decision was approved by Pope Leo XIV, effectively removing the controversial bishop from his post. Shaleta had been serving as the head of the eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego of the Chaldeans in San Diego.
The embattled cleric was recently released from custody after posting bail of about Sh16.15 million ($125,000). His legal troubles stem from allegations that he siphoned off church funds amounting to roughly Sh32.3 million ($250,000) for personal use.
According to the National catholic reporter , a statement confirming the resignation, the Vatican said: “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego of the Chaldeans, United States of America, presented by Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta.”
Shaleta had submitted his resignation to the pontiff in January 2026 after details of his alleged misconduct became public.
Authorities arrested him at San Diego International Airport while he was preparing to board a flight to Germany. At the time of his arrest, investigators reportedly found him carrying more than Sh1.16 million ($9,000) in cash, according to the New York Post.
The arrest followed a tip received by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office in August last year from a church official who raised concerns about the bishop’s alleged financial dealings.
Prosecutors later filed 15 felony charges against him, including embezzlement, money laundering and other financial crimes. However, during his arraignment, Shaleta pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Investigators believe the bishop diverted church property funds for personal use and allegedly used charity money to conceal the transactions. Financial audits reportedly uncovered at least Sh55.17 million ($427,000) missing from church accounts, with suspicions that the losses could reach as high as Sh129.2 million ($1 million).
Further reports indicate that a private investigator linked Shaleta to repeated visits to the Hong Kong Gentleman’s Club, a well-known establishment in the Zona Norte red-light district of Tijuana.
Despite the allegations, the bishop has denied any wrongdoing. He maintains that he never misused church funds, stating: “I have never, in my episcopal life, used any penny of the church money. On the contrary, I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations.”
[12:26, 3/13/2026] Tania Omusale: https://www.ncronline.org/news/pope-announces-resignation-us-bishop-accused-embezzling-270k-california-parish